SHEPHERDSTOWN - The Potomac Valley Audubon Society is once again partnering with the Potomac Conservancy to hold a "Growing Native" seed-collection event at the society's Yankauker Nature Preserve in Berkeley County from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 22.

Everyone is welcome to participate and there is no fee. A state forester will be on hand to aid with seed identification, and seed-collection bags will be provided.

These events are very popular with children and make good family outings.

The Conservancy's Growing Native program is aimed at improving water quality in the Potomac River.

It recruits volunteers to collect seeds of native hardwoods and shrubs and delivers the seeds to state nurseries, where they are nurtured into small seedlings. The seedlings are then planted along streams and rivers in the Potomac watershed to help restore forests that filter pollution and run-off.

The Yankauer preserve is located on Whiting's Neck in the northeastern corner of Berkeley County. Directions can be found on the Potomac Valley Audubon Society website at www.potomacaudubon.org.

Preregistration for the Sept. 22 event is suggested but not required. To preregister or get more information, contact Lien Vu, the Conservancy's outreach coordinator, at vu@potomac.org or 301-608-1188, ext. 215.

For those who cannot attend the Sept. 22 event but would like to help, the Conservancy will be installing seed-collection kiosks at the Yankauer Preserve, the farmers market in Inwood and the Nature Niche store in Berkeley Springs. Families and individuals can gather seeds on their own at their own pace and drop them off at any of these locations through Oct. 21.

Full instructions on procedures for gathering and dropping off seeds can be found at www.growingnative.org.

Trip to Blackwater Falls scheduled

MARTINSBURG - Adult & Community Education of Berkeley County is sponsoring a trip to Cathedral State Park and Blackwater Falls on Oct. 27. The cost of the trip is $55 per person, which includes lunch. Clark Dixon will be the host of this trip and is offering a class, Discover West Virginia Outdoors, that will complement this trip and will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 24. Cost is $10 for one attendee and a guest.

For more information or to register, call 304-267-3585.

NCTC tour and wine tasting on tap

SHEPHERDSTOWN - The Friends of the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) will host a tour of the facility and a wine and cheese tasting event at 2 p.m. today. Participants should meet at the Byrd Center. The organic wine and cheese tasting event will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. in the commons area, featuring a speaker from the National Wildlife Refuge Association. Admission is an annual membership to the Friends of NCTC, which is $5 per student, $10 per person, $20 per family and $50 for a sustaining membership.

The Friends of NCTC is a membership organization that supports the work of NCTC, including its outreach programs to the community. Volunteers this past year coordinated the community lecture series, contributed to the Eagle Cam and participated in the Wild Read Program.

Honey Festival to be held today

SHEPHERDSTOWN - The West Virginia Eastern Panhandle Beekeepers Association and the Berkeley/Jefferson Master Gardeners Association will hold their second annual Honey Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Morgan's Grove Market. There will demonstrations of honey extraction, mead brewing and soap and lip balm making. Local beekeepers will be available to answer questions on bees and beekeeping. Local honey plus beekeeping equipment and other items will be offered for sale. The Master Gardeners Association will have information on native bees, pollinators and their host plants, the benefits of dandelions and offerings of dandelion recipes.

Swint meet and greet scheduled

CHARLES TOWN - The Jefferson County African-American Non-Partisan Political Action Committee will sponsor "Meet Howard Swint, 2nd congressional district candidate for West Virginia" at 1 p.m. today in Fisherman's Hall, 320 S. West St. Light refreshments will be served.

The first trip will be Monday to the Washington Monument on South Mountain. The trip will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday. Space constraints at the viewing site will limit participation to just eight people, and preregistration is essential.

The second trip will be Sept. 20 to Snickers Gap in Virginia on the Clarke/Loudoun county line.

This site will accommodate many people, so no preregistration is required.

Those who wish to carpool to the site from the Eastern Panhandle should meet before 8 a.m. in the parking lot in front of the Martin's supermarket in the Jefferson Crossroads Shopping Center.

The annual broad-winged hawk migration is usually at its peak at this time, and these trips should provide excellent opportunities to view these magnificent birds as they soar over the region's ridge tops.

Both trips will be free and open to anyone with an interest. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them. For both trips, participants should wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for prevailing weather conditions and bring along water and insect repellent.

Both trips will be canceled in the event of steady rain, since hawks do not fly in such weather.

CHARLES TOWN - The Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society, in conjunction with the Martin Robinson Delany 200th Anniversary Commemoration Celebration Committee, will sponsor a presentation by James Surkamp on Martin Delany's life at 7 p.m. Monday at Fisherman Hall, 320 S. West St. The public is urged to attend. Delany was born in Charles Town and is best known for being the first and highest-ranking black line officer in the Civil War. In 2002, Delany was listed among the 100 greatest African-Americans.

For more information, call 304-725-9610.

Humane Society to hold social dinner

BERKELEY SPRINGS - The Humane Society of Morgan County will hold its annual dinner and meeting Monday at Cacapon Lodge. Social hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner. The event will also feature a silent auction.

For more information or tickets, call 304-258-5592.

HCC to offer drawing class

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - The Continuing Education and Business Services Division at Hagerstown Community College will offer a drawing class from 6 to 8 p.m. every Monday through Oct. 15 in the Kepler Center.

In the course, instructor Jennie Avila will lead participants to explore portraiture, landscape and still life, using pencil and charcoal. It is open to artists of all levels of experience.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. Normally closed Mondays, the museum will remain open to give visitors the opportunity to view the landmark Civil War exhibition "Valley of the Shadow," which focuses on telling the story of Hagerstown and Washington County during the Civil War.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Hagerstown Community College, in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), will offer International Code Council (ICC) residential energy inspector/plans examiner training from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 6.

This course addresses provisions in the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) and the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and teaches participants the correct use of the code in the design, plan review, inspection and analysis of projects. Students also will learn about basic code provisions and will be given guidance on how to make code compliance decisions.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive a voucher from the Maryland DHCD to take the ICC Residential Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner certification examination. Cost is $56.

All classes will be held in the Career Programs Building on HCC's main campus.

CHARLES TOWN - The Charles Town Library, 200 E. Washington St., is pleased to announce that Lyn Widmyer, local author, will present her latest book, "Chasing Cows: I'm not in the Suburbs Anymore," from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the library. The book contains humorous essays about her 30 years as a farm wife. She also recounts her adventures around various parts of West Virginia. Widmyer will be reading from her book, answering questions and signing copies of the book, which will be available for purchase. Everyone is invited to attend this event.

For more information, call the library at 304-725-2208.

Constitution Day speaker announced

SHEPHERDSTOWN - Dr. Michael Austin will present "Manufacturing Intent: Five ways to abuse history while pretending to interpret the Constitution" at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies, 213 N. King St. Austin's talk, the eighth annual Tom E. Moses Memorial Lecture on the U.S. Constitution, is part of the observance of Constitution Day at Shepherd University. A discussion, book signing and reception will follow. The event is free and open to the public.

Women's center to meet Wednesday

MARTINSBURG - The annual meeting of the Shenandoah Women's Center Inc. will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Purple Iris.

For more information, call Ann Smith at 304-263-8522.

Bird walk to be held Wednesday

BOLIVAR HEIGHTS - The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor a bird walk in the Bolivar Heights section of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park on Wednesday.

The trip will begin at 8 a.m. and last two to three hours. It will be led by an experienced birder.

Various species may be seen, including migrating hawks and warblers.

The event is free and open to anyone with an interest. Children will be welcome. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them. No preregistration will be required. Participants will meet at the Bolivar Heights parking area.

The trip will involve a moderate three-mile hike partly through woods with hilly terrain. Those who do not want to complete the entire hike will have the option to drop out at about the halfway point.

Participants should wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for prevailing weather conditions and bring along water and insect repellent.

MARTINSBURG - A panel discussion on landlord-tenant issues will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday in the fellowship hall of the Charles Town Baptist Church, 211 E. Congress St., Charles Town. Local magistrates and landlords will discuss landlord-tenant laws in West Virginia, the eviction process, screening tenants, best practices in property management and screening, and tenants' rights. The meeting is sponsored by the Housing Work Group of the Health and Human Services Collaborative.

CHARLES TOWN - CraftWorks, 1469 Lloyd Road, invites the public to be part of one of its "Community Conversations." Participants will explore what can be done together that can't be done alone.

Conversations will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday; from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday; and from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 14.

For more information, call 304-728-6233.

Education program to offer business class

MARTINSBURG - The Berkeley County Adult and Community Education program will offer an eight-week course, beginning Wednesday, that will will teach individuals how to develop ideas, how to market your business, how to manage employees, how to cope with competition, how to manage bookkeeping and what expectations you may have about long-term growth. Mentorship will also be available after completion of the the entire course. Cost is $150.

For more information or to register, call 304-267-3585.

AARP to host driver safety program

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - AARP and the Washington County Commission on Aging will offer the AARP driver safety program class from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Washington County Sheriff's Department, 500 Western Maryland Parkway. AARP classes are designed to help drivers improve their driving skills and prevent traffic accidents. The classes are geared toward drivers 55 and over, but are open to drivers of all ages. Cost is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

For more information or to register, call Judy Brewer at 301-790-0275, ext. 220.

Shepherd graduate, author to detail book

SHEPHERDSTOWN - Shepherd University graduate Nicholas Redding will present an overview of his recent publication "A History and Guide to Civil War Shepherdstown: Victory and Defeat in West Virginia's Oldest Town" as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Shepherdstown at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church at the corner of King and Washington streets. Following the presentation, a book-signing and light refreshments will be offered in the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War at 136 W. German St.

Redding is a 2008 graduate of Shepherd, where he was a student in the Civil War and 19th Century American program under Dr. Mark A. Snell, director of the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War. Recently employed by the Civil War Trust, he is the executive director of Historic Long Branch House and Farm in Millwood, Va. Redding will discuss his new book in a talk titled "Like An Awful Dream: Shepherdstown at War, 1861-1865."

For more information, call the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War at 304-876-5429.

HCC to offer arboretum tour

HAGERSTOWN, Md.- This fall, the Continuing Education and Business Services Division at Hagerstown Community College will offer a tour of the State Arboretum of Virginia from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.

Participants touring the arboretum will view boxwood cultivars, pine trees, herb gardens, native plant meadows and trails and a selection of perennials. The tour will be conducted by horticultural educator Debby Fiola. Participants also will receive an on-site lecture about "CSI plants" by Steve Carroll, arboretum director, public programming.

Cost is $75 per person. Fee includes motor coach transportation/gratuity and lectures. Participants are asked to provide their own lunches.

For more information or to register, call 240-500-2236, or visit hager stowncc.edu/coned/register.

Social connection to meet Friday

WINCHESTER, Va. - The Winchester Connection, a social group for single professionals over 40, will gather at 6 p.m. Friday at Brewbaker's for dinner and conversation. Brewbaker's is located on the Loudoun Street Mall. Dress is business casual, and prospective members are welcome.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - The Continuing Education and Business Services Division at Hagerstown Community College will offer a one-day workshop on conservation landscaping from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at HCC's Valley Mall Center.

The workshop will teach participants how to manage insects with organic products, recycle yard waste for free, cut water usage in half and create wildlife-friendly gardens using native plants. Cost is $37.

BERKELEY SPRINGS - The fifth annual Berkeley Springs Fall Birding Festival will be held in and around Berkeley Springs Friday to Sept. 23. Most of the festival's events will be free, and everyone is invited to attend.

The festival is timed to coincide with the annual fall bird migration. It will include various programs, bird walks and workshops.

This year's featured presenter will once again be Sharon Stiteler, a Minnesota naturalist who participated in last year's festival. Stiteler authors the popular "Birdchick.com" blog, which has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and on NBC Nightly News. She has a national reputation as a very engaging and entertaining speaker.

To help cover festival expenses, a $10 ticket will be sold for the evening programs. This ticket will be good for admission to both those programs. Advance tickets will be available at the Nature Niche store at 168 N. Washington St., in Berkeley Springs, 304-258-0992 or natureniche@earthlink.net.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Author Thomas J. Craughwell will present a lecture entitled "Remembering Ireland and Fighting for the Union" at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. The lecture is offered in conjunction with the Museum's headline exhibition "Valley of the Shadow" that commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War in Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. A reception hosted by the Singer Society, the volunteer organization of the Museum, will follow the lecture. This is a ticketed event, free for members of the Museum and children 12 and under and $5 for non-members.

For more information and a complete list Civil War events, visit www.wcmfa.org or call 301-739-5727.